There's finally enough (real) snow for Paoli Peaks to start its season

Submitted by Paoli Peaks Resort
Paoli Peaks is covered in white following the snowfall on the 28th and 29th, which dumped an additional six inches on the resort, following three to four inches of the snow that fell on the ski trails on Dec. 26.

Submitted by Paoli Peaks Resort
Paoli Peaks is covered in white following the snowfall on the 28th and 29th, which dumped an additional six inches on the resort, following three to four inches of the snow that fell on the ski trails on Dec. 26. "We have all but one trail open and all but one lift open. We're running about 90 percent to full capacity," David Kastan, Paoli Peaks' sales and marketing director said on Monday

David Kastan, Paoli Peaks' sales and marketing director, said the resort is encouraged by the total of 10 inches of real snow brought by two different storms since early last Wednesday.

"We have all but one trail open and all but one lift open. We're running about 90 percent to full capacity," he said Monday.

"It looks like it will be a good season for us," Kastan added, as he reviewed a current 10-day forecast of low temperatures in the teens which, he said, will make conditions perfect for the resort to make additional snow.

A dusting of snow was expected overnight tonight.

High temperatures the rest of the week will struggle to get out of the middle 30s. However, the forecast is precipitation-free through at least Sunday, when a gradual warm-up is set to begin.

It'll be plenty cold enough for the people at Paoli, where the resort uses 115 fans to produce snow. Thanks to the snowfalls in recent days, the resort — located about six miles east of French Lick, Ind. — was able to open Sunday, only about seven days later than normal.

The season is expected to run through mid-March.

The past season was abnormally short — from Jan. 6 to March 4 — due to historically dry conditions, which reduced attendance by a third, Kastan estimated.

On average, the resort has 80,000 to 100,000 visitors a season.

The hours of operation are:

9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for skiing and snowboarding, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for tubing Tuesday-Thursday.

9 a.m. to 3 a.m. for skiing and snowboarding, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. for tubing on Friday.

9 a.m. to 3 a.m. for skiing and snowboarding, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. for tubing on Saturday.

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for skiing and snowboarding, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for tubing on Sunday.

This Sunday will be first Sunday for Sunday Family Specials, which offer a snow pass for $30, with an additional rent fee of $10 for all ages, Kastan said.